A proposed national sports fund to develop a robust support system for all athletes in Bahrain is set to be debated during Shura Council’s weekly session on Sunday.
The move, presented by five Shura Council members led by youths affairs committee chairman Redha Monfaradi, outlines the fund’s objectives, operational scope and strategies to support athletes and the broader sports community.
It is envisioned to cover critical areas such as sports medicine, incentive programmes for outstanding athletes and the development of revenue-generating investment projects.
Debate on the proposal was postponed two weeks ago as Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain pointed out that it missed the review of Shura’s own financial and economic affairs committee.
l The upper chamber of the National Assembly is also set to vote on a new legislation allowing employers more flexibility while rectifying their situations in case of non-compliance with work permit procedures or renewals.
It will be a retrospective vote on a decree issued by His Majesty King Hamad during the National Assembly’s recess in September last year, amending the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law.
Companies will be prohibited from employing a foreign worker without a valid work permit; such offences can now be corrected by an employer paying a fee of BD500. However, if the violation is repeated, the fee will increase to BD1,000.
If a company is found employing an expatriate with an expired work permit, the reconciliation fee will vary in different stages – BD100 if the violation is detected within 10 days of the permit’s expiry, BD200 if it’s detected between 10 and 20 days, and BD300 between 20-30 days. After a month, the minimum statutory fine for the offence applies.
The amendments also allow reconciliation in case of foreigners working without a valid work permit, with a correction fee of BD500 for first-time violations.
The amendment also extends the reconciliation period from seven to 14 working days to facilitate the rectification process.
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